SETTLERS CHOP DOWN 150 OLIVE SAPLINGS IN WEST BANK

Salfit, 22 Rabu’ul Awwal 1436/13 January 2015 (MINA) – Israeli settlers Sunday chopped down around 150 Palestinian-owned olive trees in the West Bank town of Yasuf, according to local sources.

Gassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the West Bank, said illegal Israeli settlers stormed the village of Yasuf and chopped down 150 newly planted olive saplings, Wafa News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli human rights group, expressed its shock at this “criminal act” and called for starting an immediate probe to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

“Mature trees are more expensive, and it will take the farmers decades in order to make up for the losses caused by today’s destruction. Trees cut in this fashion almost invariably die,” said the group.

To be noted, illegal settlers of the West Bank attack Palestinians’ property and vandalize farmers’ lands, almost with the protection of the Israeli security.

According to international law, Israeli settlements and Jewish settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, both occupied since 1967, are illegal.(T/P008/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)